Amid growing concerns over fuel availability in Odisha, district administrations in Bhadrak, Malkangiri, and Cuttack intensified inspections and monitoring of petrol pumps on Friday to prevent irregularities and ensure smooth distribution of fuel to consumers.

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In Bhadrak district, a team of officials conducted raids at several petrol pumps following reports of unmanageable crowds and restrictions allegedly imposed by petrol pump operators.

The inspection drive was carried out by Sub-Collector Saurabh Chakraborty, District Supply Officer (DSO) Manmohan Pattanayak, and Additional SP Arup Abhishek Behera, along with other senior officials.

During the raid, the officials interacted with petrol pump employees as well as customers to assess the ground situation and verify complaints regarding fuel supply and crowd management.

The move comes as panic buying and uncertainty over fuel availability have led to long queues at several filling stations across the State. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure there is no artificial shortage or black-marketing.

In Malkangiri district, the situation appears more severe, with reports of petrol being sold openly in the black market at inflated prices. While diesel remains unavailable in many areas, only a few petrol pumps are reportedly operating with limited stock.

Consumers are being allowed to purchase petrol worth only Rs 200 per vehicle, causing inconvenience to commuters and transport operators. Residents have expressed concern over the worsening fuel situation and demanded immediate intervention from the administration.

Meanwhile, in Cuttack, the District Collector has been personally visiting various petrol pumps to inspect fuel stocks and review supply conditions. Officials are conducting physical verification of available stock and monitoring distribution to prevent hoarding and ensure fair supply to the public.

The State administration continues to keep a close watch on the fuel distribution network as public anxiety over fuel shortages grows in several districts of Odisha.

“I visited three petrol pumps in Malkangiri town. No tank has stock. I have a very urgent work, and I am to go to Jeypore, Koraput district. But I cannot go. Therefore, if a solution could be found for the petrol problem in Malkangiri, it would be good,” a resident expressed to OTV.

Reported By: Jitendra Beura, Partha Sarathi Nayak, Pravat Bisoyi